Intercepter for splash-lubrication crank-cases.



E. M WHITE. INTERCEPTER FOR SPLASH LUBRICATION CRANK CASES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- 26-196- L filfifi Patentefi 00%. 2,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- WITNESS INVENTOR E. M WHITE.

INTE RCEPTER FOR SPLASH LUBRICAHON CRANK CASES. APPLICATION FILED DEC.26, was.

LZl ,589, Patented Oct, 2, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- icy;

ifzzfiiw, I A W JEW I EEWM A USXW J rafrr orator- ERNEST lVI. WHITE, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

INTERCEFTER FOB SPLASH-LUBRICA'I'ION CRANK-CASES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 2, 1917.

Application filed December 26, 1916. Serial No. 138,952.

b all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Ennnsr M. Ni-urn, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Detroit, in the county of \Vayne and State of hlichigan, have invented a new and Improved Intercepter for Splash-Lubrication Crank-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for controlling the amount of lubricating oil splashed up by the ends of the connecting rods of internal combustion engines from oil receptacles below the crank shaft and thrown up into the cylinders, and its object is to provide a projecting plate or intercepter whereby over-luln'ication of the cylinders may be prevented by blocking a portion of the oil that is being carried around in the form of spray and heavy mist by the crank shaft, which mist is thrown out by centrifu gal force into the cylinders of the engine.

This invention consists. in combination with an internal combustion engine provided with oil receptacles below the crank shaft from which lubricating oil may be splashed up by the connectingrods. of a plate or intercepter extending from one wall of the crank case -into the space between said side and the crank shaft and so positioned that the diameter of the drum of the mist of lubricating oil which is carried around by the crank shaft may be varied and thereby the amount of oil which is thrown out from the crank shaft into the cylinders of the engine may be controlled. It further consists in forming the metal of the intercepting device with inclined grooves or troughs by means of which a portion of the intercepted oil will be conveyed longitudinally of the crank case so as not to return to the receptacle from which it was splashed up by the connecting rods. It also consists in the details of construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central longitudinal section of the lower portion of an internal combustion engine embodying this present invention.

Fig. 2 is an inside elevation of a combinedoil interceptor and conveyer. Fig. 3 is a cross section of the lower part of a crank case. Fig. is a perspective view of a stiffening member for the lower portion of the crank case. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section of the lower part of a crank case showing a modified form of intercepter. Figs. 6 to 13 inclusive are vertical cross sections of intercepters and those portions of the crank cases to which they are attached.

Similar reference characters refer parts throughout the several views.

The engine shown in Fig. 1 is of well known construction and is taken merely as an example of present engine practice. it being understood that the present invention may be made use of in any other type of engine in which splash lubrication is employed. Its cylinders 1 connect to the upper part 2 of the crank case. while the lower part 3 of the crank case may be of pressed sheet metal and secured to the upper part 2 by means of screws or bolts i. The crankshaft 5 has any desired number of cranks to receive the thrusts from the connecting rods 6. which have extensions 7 to dip into the lubricating oil in the small receptacles 8, 9 and 10 in the cover 11 of the lower part 3 of the crank case, which cover is held in position by means of screws 13 that extend through holes in the cover and the part 3 into threaded holes in the reinforcing bar 1 1. A. gasket 15 may be placed between the cover 11 and the crank case. It will be understood that the reinforcing bar may be omitted and the cover made integral with the part 3.

The rear end of the crankcase, when mounted on a vehicle, that is, the right hand end in Fig. 1. is shown expanded to make room for the fly-wheel 17, magnet carrier 18 and the stationary magneto support 19,

to like shown conventionally in Fig. 1, and also to constitute the main oil reservoir 20. The oil pipe 22 extends into the stationary magneto support and is provided with a funnel 23 to receive the oil that is carried up by the fly-wheel 17 and the magnet carrier and this oil flows to the oil receptacles in the bottom of the crank case, whence it is splashed up by the lower ends ofthe con necting rods, and beaten into a fine mist which fills the entire crank case but is heaviest at thecrank shaft where it constitutes a drum or cylinder of very heavy' mist or fine spray. and from which it constantly moves outward under centrifugal force. The main heavy body of the mist seems to retain a cylindrical shape and to inclose the cranks. 'Any other desired means may be provided to supply the oil to the recrowded back by th ceptacles in the bottom of the crank case from any other type of reservoir at any other location.

oil in the receptacles at the becomes quite is splashed 'st become very ubricant are front cylinders. lis smeared on of it drawn past the piston rings at the charging stroke of the piston. The engine said to pump This results in loss of oil and in a deposit of carbon and gumming substance in the cylinders which is particularly objectionable at the spark plugs. When the veicleis running down hill, the accumulation of oil at-the front end often results in a lack of oil at the rear end, although this is usually compensated for by the fact that the movement of the vehicle causes the drum of mist to become densest at the rear end of the crank case.

l is present invention is articularly designed to permit a. free flow of lubricating oil to the oil receptacles at the bottom of the crank case, and at the same time provide means to intercept the excess of oil splashed up by the connecting rods and rown out by centrifugal force from the drum of mist that surrmuidsthe crank shaft. The intercepting device'may be used in connection with the inclined oil conveyers shown in my Patent Number 1,194,800, dated August 15, 1916, or independently.

eferring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the intercepter is shown to consist of a sheet of metal having a foot 21. secured to the bottom of the crank case in any desired manner the method employed being to place this foot between the bottom -11 and the in-turned bottom flange of the lower portion 3 of the crank case, where the foot is held by the bolts 13.

l "ate portion 22 of this intercepter is formed with inclined troughs 23 i convey the oil received thereby to crank case. The 24 of the interceptor is curved crank case may be formed engagement with connecting rods. ese notches also permit any oil which may e thrown against the side wall of the part 2 to flow directly down to 'the inclined trou hs 23, rather than have such oil gather on the top of the part 24 and flow inward toward its edge whence .it would be whipped up again into the mist drum that surrounds the crank shaft.

The intercepters 24 are preferably curved in cross section, as shown, in order that any spray or mist intercepted by'them may be e swirl of air set in moupper part toward the position. This results in th I The amount 'of pass to the cylin tion by the crank shaft. spray or mist which will dcrs will depend upon the distance between the outer edge of the intcrcepter and the cranks as well as on the width ofthe i'iotches 25. It will be readily seen that this quantity of lubricant can be increased or de creased by bending the interceptor back toward the wall. of the crank case or out to ward the crank shaft.

The oil that flows down the sides of the crank case is carried back step by step by the oil troughs 23 in the plate and by the troughs 27 in the plate 28. as described. in Patent Number 1,191,800, and reaches the reservoir 9.0. his prevents an excessive amount of oil accumulating at the front end or" the crank case and also insures an equal distribution of oil.

When the inclined troughs are not con sidered necessary, aiiat ii'iclincd surface 30 connected to the foot 31 may be employed, asshown in Fig. to support the inter-- cepter On the opposite side of the crank case the flat. inclined corneyer 3-2: is shown.

In Fig. 6, the intercepter 33 isshou'n formedon the lower portion of the upper part 2 of the crank case. The holes 35 may be formed in this intcrcepter to permit' oil to drain down when no notches are formed in the interceptor to permit the passage of the lower ends of the cminecting rods. These holes may be located and suliicient size to permit 1 through to such working special service.

ubricaut to pass parts as require Various other modifications of this invention may be suggested. In Fig. '7

I the conveycr-intercepter IS simih r to that sl Fig. 3 but is formed with lwles in iown in stead of notches. In Fig.8 the screws 13 are placed with bolts 38 that secure the parts to gether. The foot 39 of the plate stl is on top of the bar 14-, and the grooved plate -10 is connected to the plate ail below the intcrcepter 42. In Fig. 9, the interceptor -18 is shown formed with a rib 44- that may be electrically welded tothc wall of the crank case In Fig. 12 the interccpter is shown secured to the wall of the lower. part of the crank case by means of bolts 46 while in Fig. 13 the bolts 46 secure the intercepter 4.7 to t e upper portion of the crank case. Both intercepters have drain holes 4-8.

n Fig. 10, the boltsSS secure the foot 50 of the sheet metal structure in position and as in the intercepters shown in Figs. 3, 5, 'Z' and 8, the foot is preferably at a slightly smaller angle to the main portion ofthe sheet metal. structure before being secured in e upper or inter- 'cepter part 51 being pressed against the ad jacent side of the crank case. 'The troughs 52 are similar to those described above. In Fig. 11, the bolts 46 pass through the sheet quirements of metal structure between the interceptor 54 and the troughs 55. No foot is necessary in this case. Anygother desired method may be employed to secure these lubricant-regulators in position.

Nearly every one of these intercepters comprises at least two parts which are usually at a distinct angle toeach other. While the drawings show the outer edge of one part of each intercepter to be curved, this is not absolutely necessary, and the other part may have various forms, but in each case, the parts are generally at an oblique angle to each other In Figs. 3, 5, 7, 8 and 10, one of the parts is formed with holes to receive the bolts which secure the lower part of the crank case in position. In each case, one of the parts extends generally toward the crank case and may be perforated to permit the oil falling thereon to drain through. in practice, the notches 25 shown in Fig. 2 will often be found necessary to permit the intercepter to be almost in contact with the cranks. 1

It will be understood that the angle and width of these intercepters may be varied for each cylinder of an engine and to permit proper lubrication of auxiliary mechanism. The cross sectional form'may also be varied to meet the requirements or each type of engine, and in some cases, to meet the re the different cylinders of each engine. a

While this entire specification has been directed-to internal combustion engines, the invention is not limited thereto but may be employed in connection with any other mechanism which embodies a crank case, crank shaft, connecting rods, pistons and cylinders, thus including air and gas compressors and pumps.

I claim l. The combination of a crank case, an oil reservoir in constant communication therewith, a crank shaft in said crank case and connecting rods attached thereto, a plate be low the shaft formed with depressions constituting oil receptacles from which connecting rods may splash up oil, and an intercepter positioned apart from the plate on that side of the crank case toward which the connecting rods move as they splash up said oil and havlng a concave lower face to intercept a portion of the oil thus splashed up.

2. The combination of a crank case, a crank shaft and connecting rods, said crank casebeing' provided with a series of oil receptacles from which the connecting rods may splash up lubricating oil, and an intercepter mounted in the crank case and pro ,jecting from the side of the crank case toward the crank shaft to partially obstruct one side of the crank case and intercept a portion of the splashed up oil, the other side of the crank case being unobstructed by said intercepter, the lower side of the interceptor being concave.

3. In a multi-cylinder mechanism, a crank case p ovided with an oil receptacle, a sheet metal plate comprising a plurality of parts at an angle to each other, one of said parts having openings to receive bolts normally used to secure together parts of the crank case, another part extending toward the crank shaft of the engine to intercept a portion of the lubricant splashed up from said receptacle and carried around by said crank shaft.

4:. The combination of cylinders and connecting rods, a crank case and a crank shaft therein, said crank case constituting a main oil reservoir, an oil pan mounted in the crank case below the crank shaft and formed with'auxiliary oil receptacles into which the lower ends of the connecting rods may dip to splash oil up into the cylinders, means to convey longitudinally of the crank shaft into the main reservoir a portion of the oil splashed out of said auxiliary receptacles, and an interceptor to block a portion of the oil splashed out of said auxiliary receptacles and divert it back into'said auxiliary receptacles, and means to convey the lubricatipg oil from the main reservoir to said auxiliary receptacles.

5. The combination of a crank case, a crank shaft therein, connecting rods on the shaft, a series of oilreceptacles from which the connecting rods may splash up oil, and an intercepter spaced from said receptacles to intercept a portion of the splashed up oil and formed with a series of holes to permit the passage of such oil as may fall on the interceptor. r

6. The combination of a crank case, a

crank shaft therein. connecting rods on the shaft, a series of oil receptacles from which the connecting rods may splash up oil, and an intercepter spaced from said receptacles to intercept a portion of the splashed up oil and formed with a series of'holes to permit the passage of such oil as may fall on the interceptor, the lower surface of said intershaft. a series of oil receptacles from which the connecting rods may splash up oil. and an interceptor secured to the side of the crank case toward which the ,oil is thrown from said receptacles by t e connecting rods and extending therefrom toward the crank shaft to limit the amount of oil-mist carried around by the crank shaft.

The combination crank shafttherein, connecting rode on the shaft, a s ries of oil receptacles from which the connecting" rods may splash up oil, and an interceptor secured to the side of the iii'illlli'lfilsil and extending toward the crank shaft to block av portion of the splashed up oil, the edge of the intercepter nearest the crankshaft being formed with notches to permit the passage of the lower ends of the connecting rods.

10. The combination of crank shaft therein, connecting rods on the shaft, a series of oil receptacles from which the connecting rods may splash up oil, and an interceptor secured to the side of the crank case and; extending toward the crank shaft to block a, portion of the splashed up oil, the lower side of theintercepter being concave, the material constituting the interceptor extending down and inclined and formed with diagonal troughs to convey oil intercepted longitudinally oi the crank case.

1 new article of manufacture consisting of a sheet metal plate comprising two wings at an oblique angle to each other, one of said wings being formed with a. trough and having an upper edge bent toward said trough.

12. A no i article of inaiurl acturc consisting of sheet metal plate bent to form two wings at an oblique angle to each other, one of said wings having free edge curved and overi'uinging the other wing.

18. 12. new a :le oi" manufacture consisting of two wings at an oblique angle to each other, one of said wings being formed with holes properly spaced to admit bolts e1nployed to secure parts of a crank case together, the second wing being formed with inclined troughs and with. its free edge curved toward said troughs.

14. In a. multi-cylinder mechanism, a crank case provided with main and auxiliary oil receptacles, a removable strm-ture mounted within the, crank case in engagement with one side wall and embodying a a crank case, a

of a. crank case, a

. side wall and embodying a. plate extendin mally used to secure together plate extending toward the crank shaft and substantially parallel thereto to intercept a portion of the oil carried around by the crank shaft.

15. In a multi-cylinder mechanism, a crank case provided with main and auxiliary oil receptacles, a ;II11()Vflbl8 structure mounted within the crank case alon toward the crank shaft to intercept, and deflect downwardly a portion of the oil carried around by the crank shaft, said structure also embodying a trough positioned below the intercepter to receive and conduct the downwardly deflected oil longitudinally of the crank shat.

6. A new article of manufacture consisting of a metal plate comprising a plurality of parts at an angle to each other, said parts having openings to receive bolts normally used to secure together parts of the crank case of an internal combustion engine, the edge of the other part being notched to permit the passage of the ends of the connecting rods of the engine.

In a inulti-cylinder mechanism, a crank shaft, a crank case surrounding the crank shaft and embodying a main oil res-.

ervoir and auxiliary oil to convey oil irom th the auxiliary receptacles, means e main reservoir to receptacles, means to splash up said oil. from the auxiliary rcceptacles,

means secured to a side wall of the crank case and obstructing a portion of the space between said wall and crank shaft to interoil, and

main reservoir. Y

18. In an internal combustion engine, a crank case provided with an oil receptacle from which oil may be splashed up by the connecting rod sheet metal plate adapted to be secured within the crank case and comprising a plurality of parts, one of said parts having openings to receive bolts norparts of the the other part being adapted to intercept a portion of the splashed 11 oil and formed with holes to permit the cirect passage of oil which falls thereon.

.ERNEST M. WHITE.

crank case, 

